From left, Eric Hagglund, 4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grill owner, with his customers Tom Mason, Billy Kates, Chad Kehe, Tim Kolstee and Darren Hoovler on the new parklet outside of 4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grill, located at 104 E. Second St., Jamestown. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

The first parklet in the city of Jamestown is open to the public.

The parklet at 4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grill, located at 104 E. Second St., Jamestown, is now available to customers who want to eat and drink outside. Eric Hagglund, 4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grill owner, said he first started seating customers on the parklet on Sept. 5. He said currently there are plastic chairs available to customers as he awaits nicer chairs and tables that will be installed once they arrive.

“So far, so good. A lot of people really like it,” Hagglund said. “They can have a drink and chit-chat. They’re not cooped up inside.

Hagglund said, while he was building the outdoor deck platform that covers a former park space in front of the business, a lot of people were stopping and asking him what he was building.

“I explained it to them and they enjoyed what I was doing,” he said. “I’m still waiting for some signage to make sure people will see it at night. I’m going to put up some reflector signs with my logo.”

Hagglund said space will be available on the whiskey barrels he has on the edge of the parklet where businesses can buy a plaque from The Trophy House, located at 100 E. Second St., Jamestown, and provide information to their business so customers can see.

“I’m trying to pay it forward a little bit,” he said. “They can have their business info out there so people can find other businesses in and around Jamestown.”

Hagglund said he did receive funding assistance from the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. (JRC) for the cost of creating the parklet. In May, JRC officials announced funding assistance of 50% matching grants to a business up to $3,000 for any business wanting to install a parklet.

A parklet is a sidewalk extension that provides more space and amenities for people using the street. Usually parklets are installed on parking lanes and use several parking spaces.

Parklets typically extend out from the sidewalk at the level of the sidewalk to the width of the adjacent parking space.

Last month, the Jamestown City Council approved Hagglund’s permit to install a parklet. In June during a special meeting of the Jamestown City Council, the parklet program was approved by city officials to allow downtown businesses more space for outdoor dining, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic when restaurants that have reopened are only allowed to seat at 50% capacity. The parklet concept is new to Jamestown, but has been used in other parts of the country, especially out west.

Last month, Hagglund said the parklet will be able to hold three tables, with each having a seating capacity of four people. Hagglund said the parklet will be uninstalled during the winter and the permit allows for use of the seating platform from April 1 to Oct. 31. He said the parklet will be 5 feet from the front of his business, so pedestrian traffic will still be able walk on the sidewalk along East Second Street.